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Monday, 16 April 2012

A to Z 1950s/60s Nostalgia: N

N Smell:

Nappy bucket - Oh, the joy! No disposable nappies! They had to be soaked in Napisan and then boil-washed to get rid of those nasty stains. My only comment about today's A to Z smell is that at least the bucket had a lid!

N Memories:

The New Look - Christian Dior was the most influential fashion designer of the 1950s. His first post-war collection became known as the New Look. It was feminine and elegant and was an instant hit coming so soon after the austere war years. It featured tiny waists to show off that hour-glass figure [for those who had one!] Skirts were either straight and sophisticated or flared and pretty, which takes me to my next memory...

Nylon and net petticoats - My sister had some amazing petticoats, layer upon layer of net, some with a hoop sewn in, making her skirt stand out like a crinoline lady's. I was only allowed a small one but my net was rainbow-coloured and I loved it. The only problem with the full net petticoats was sitting down. Your skirt shot up into your face and everyone saw your knickers!

Normal Service will be resumed as soon as possible - This was a regular sight on our television screens. The transmissions were always breaking down.

David Nixon and his magic

N Programmes:

On TV:
Noddy and not forgetting his mate, Big Ears
The David Nixon Show

Hi Little sis, Those Net Petticoats were fantastic weren't they - sitting on a bus going dancing (the Palias) wasn't that easy though - I usually stood up the whole journey!!! If I remember right we wore knickers to match our skirts... *giggle* Hi Pat, I tried sugar but it didn't work for me!!!!

Do you know I'd completely forgotten about the "Normal Service will be Resumed" notice on TV - 'wow' wasn't it primitive - thinking about what we have now.

Does anyone remember "Nux Bars" in the early 50's - they were delicious.

Pat - Nulon Hand creme would have to be my 50's N smell - I can recall it vividly - had a sort of almond tinge to it.

Francene - I pulled my wide belt in so tight it left permanent marks!!!! thought I looked great though and loved the Nipped in waist look.

I remember Crinolines. My mother had some beautiful dresses. A fascination for me was some of those little air tubes sewn in and some had wire with netting.

Nappys. We call them diapers over here, but regardless of the name, the smell is the same. Never heard of Napisan. My mom started having babies before disposables. As the oldest daughter I can remember having to rinse those blasted things so they could be washed. Ugh.

UGH! We may not have called it a "nappie bucket" on this side of the Atlantic, but it smelled just as bad. And trust me, that lid didn't help a bit when our son spilled the contents of that bucket all over the bathroom carpet. Yes, carpet. It was in the house when we moved in, but trust me, it had to be ripped out after that incident!

Another great post. I've really been enjoying your trips down memory lane.

I loved the pictures of the clothes from the fifties. I didn't live in the fifties, but I watch a lot of I Love Lucy and adore the clothes she wears on there. Modest, classy. It's much better than today's fashions.

Hi Ros .. thankfully (perhaps!) I missed out on nappy buckets .. I wasn't really into fashion - except for occasional 'success' stories that hit my neck of the woods .. I remember nylon net petticoats as the rage when we could wear a Liberty print dress on Sundays .. and it has a net petticoat underneath .. it was scratchy .. and I'm not a fan of scratch!!

Normal Service will be resumed - now that was a regular occurrence ..

TV, radio .. and Names they certainly featured somewhere along the line .. especially Paul Newman! Also Nehru in recent times ..

Rosalind Adam

I am a writer, committed worrier and nostalgia obsessive with a fascination for all things historical. I am currently enjoying a return to education, studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Leicester University. Please scroll down to see my books...

The Children's Book of Richard III

This is my latest book, illustrated by Alice Povey. Click on the picture to buy a copy or go to Amazon.

Children's History of Leicester

A Children's History of Leicester published by Hometown World Publishers, 2011

Bathtime Rap

Bathtime Rap is a fun children's picture book published by Franklin Watts, 2008.

Heritage Funded Projects

I was lead facilitator on the following two Heritage Lottery funded projects:

Leicester Jewish Voices

In 2009 I coordinated a memories project looking at the Leicester Jewish Community during the 1950s and 60s. You can see the website by clicking on the picture.

Local Cemetery Project

I coordinated the cataloguing of the Jewish section of Leicester Gilroes to provide a genealogical search facility. Subsequent research of a number of the headstones enabled us to record 'The Lives Behind the Stones'. 2014/15